The Scottish Working Woods label

A new label for Scottish woodland products

The Scottish Working Woods label guarantees that products carrying it
are made in Scotland, by producers based in Scotland, from woodland materials
grown, harvested and processed in Scotland.

The emphasis of the label is to highlight small producers supplying quality
products in ways which benefit the environment and rural communities.
In this way many small businesses together can create a recognised and
valued brand, raising the profile of their products.

This is an independent product label, owned and managed by a consortium
of trade associations in Scotland. It was launched at Touchwood / Scottish
Woodfair in Dingwall in June 2007, with the support of Scottish Enterprise
and Forestry Commission Scotland.

Can wild harvests businesses use the label?

Many of Scotland's wild harvests come from woodlands, and come under
the definition of "non-timber
forest products" (NTFPs), so people using them are potentially
eligible to use the Scottish Working Woods label. However, the scheme
is designed to be administered through existing trade associatons - this
is to keep bureaucracy, and therefore costs, to a minimum. Only members
of those trade associations can apply to use the label.

Reforesting Scotland was consulted about NTFP issues during the development
of the Scottish Working Woods label, and while there was no direct representation
from NTFP businesses, continued to be involved in the process. It started
the Wild
Harvests Sector Support project to facilitate the formation of a representative
group for the wild harvests sector - which now exists, in the form of
the Scottish Wild Harvests Association.
Members of this Association could apply to use the Scottish Working Woods
label for their products - do get
in touch if you would like to find out more.